Keller Connections
Family Update - November 26
Principal's Note
Dear Keller Families,
I hope you all enjoyed time with family and friends over this Thanksgiving holiday.
This time of year reminds us to pause and give thanks as well as stop and reflect on the connections we have with those in our lives and the moments and memories we create together each day.
I want to pause and thank all of you for partnering with teachers during conferences, connecting with me, volunteering/chaperoning, and joining together at school events.
As always, please know you can reach out at any time with questions or concerns.
Warm Regards,
Keri Busavage, Principal
Keller Connection Translations
凯勒连接翻译
Keller Connection Traduções
Tradiksyon Koneksyon Keller
Keller Connection Traducciones
Keller ترجمه های Connection
Click “Translate” on the top of this update and select your preferred language.
单击此更新顶部的“翻译”,然后选择您的首选语言。
Clique em "Traduzir" na parte superior desta atualização e selecione seu idioma preferido.
Klike sou "Tradui" sou tèt aktyalizasyon sa a epi chwazi lang ou pi pito ou.
Haga clic en "Traducir" en la parte superior de esta actualización y seleccione su idioma preferido.
Telling Our Story
Keller Partnerships!
As an extension of World Kindness Day, classrooms partnered together to create posters sharing positive messages. On November 21, students joined together in the 2nd Annual Keller Parade and spotlighted their posters displaying messages of kindness. Posters will be displayed around the building!
Classes Partnered to Design Kindness Posters!
Classes Paraded the Halls in Keller's Kindness Parade!
Coats for Kids and Families
Keller will be hosting a Winter Coat Drive in conjunction with Jordan's Furniture and Anton's Cleaners.
We will be accepting donations of like-new and new adult and child winter garments!
Jordan’s Furniture is proud to sponsor the Coats for Kids & Families program. This philanthropic initiative is aimed at collecting and donating gently-used, like-new, and new quality winter garments for both children and adults to families in-need through a wide network of social service agencies. Coat donations will be accepted at Keller from January 2 - 5.
All coats will be professionally cleaned and sanitized by Anton’s prior to distribution. Donated items are provided to families in-need in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maine.
Thank you Coach for leading this event!
Keller School Council
We are looking for family and community members to serve on Keller's School Council.
Purpose: The School Council, in serving as representatives of our larger community, seeks to enrich and enhance opportunities for teaching and learning that result in improved learning outcomes for students. Together, the council strives to improve supports available to teachers, students, and families.
About School Council: As outlined in the Education Reform Act of 1993, the School Council is comprised of representatives from the parent body, staff, and community. Some of the council's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, examining the following topics:
School Handbook
School Climate, Safety, and Discipline
School Budget
Enhancement of Family and Community Involvement
Review of School Improvement Plan
The council identifies areas for continued improvement by establishing explicit goals, objectives, and identifying persons charged with various responsibilities, as determined by an identified timeline with measurable outcomes. In determining areas for improvement, the School Council takes guidance from the following sources:
Federal Mandates
MA State Standards
Franklin Public Schools Strategic Plan and District Goals
The school’s core values and analysis of student learning
Commitment: Terms are 1-2 years. Meetings will be held on Thursdays, 3:00 - 4:00 (virtual). Here is a list of tentative dates:
December 21
January 18
March 21
April 30
May 9
If you are interested in joining the Keller School Council please complete this form by December 1. If we have more interest than spots on the council a PCC-led election will be held using the biographical information in this form.
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System - MCAS 2024
Below are dates for Franklin Spring 2024 MCAS testing.
ELEMENTARY
April 2 and 3, 2024- Grade 4 ELA
April 8 and 9, 2024- Grade 3 ELA
April 10 and 11, 2024- Grade 5 ELA
April 30 and May 1, 2024- Grade 3 Math
May 7 and 8, 2024- Grade 4 Math
May 9 and 10, 2024- Grade 5 STE
May 15 and 16, 2024- Grade 5 Math
MIDDLE
April 2 and 3, 2024- Grades 7 and 8 ELA
April 9 and 10, 2024- Grade 6 ELA
May 1 and 2, 2024- Grades 7 and 8 Math
May 8 and 9, 2024- Grade 6 Math and Grade 8 STE
HIGH
November 8 and 9, 2023- ELA Retests
November 14 and 15, 2023- Math Retests
February 6 and 7, 2023- Science Retests
March 26 and 27, 2024- ELA
May 21 and 22, 204- Math
June 4 and 5, 2024- Science
Franklin SEPAC and SAFE Coalition
The Franklin SEPAC and SAFE Coalition are hosting a workshop for Parents and Caregivers of Tweens and Teens, Mental Health and Suicide Awareness and Prevention, on December 5, 2023, from 6:30 PM-8:00 PM in the Training Room on the 3rd floor of the Municipal Building. Please register here.
Kindergarten & First Grade Math Mornings!
As we continue to grow our Keller ST Math community, we invite you to save the following ST Math Morning dates:
Kindergarten - December 6, 8:45 - 9:30 AM
Grade 1- December 7, 8:45 - 9:30 AM
During the ST Math Mornings, you will have the opportunity to learn more about this program from your Keller Kid and staff.
We look forward to seeing you in December!
If you plan to attend, please RSVP here.
ST Math at Home!
ST Math is a visual-spatial program that engages students in creative and rigorous problem-solving which complements our Tier I math program (Illustrative Math). Click this link for an introductory video.
Implementing ST Math is grounded in our work to provide all students with access to high-quality mathematics materials.
We invite K-5 students to access ST Math at home and for parents to join the ST Math at-home community.
Students access ST Math by logging into their FPS Google account and clicking the Clever bookmark.
Students should work independently, but parents/guardians/caregivers can support students by engaging in math conversations. The following questions are designed to guide these discussions.
Describe what you see on the screen.
What have you tried to do to solve the puzzle?
What do you think you need to do to solve the puzzle?
Describe the strategy that you are going to try.
What do you think will happen when you click the Go Button?
Describe what you see after you try your strategy. Was it what you expected?
How does this compare to what you thought would happen?
What did you learn from the animated feedback?
What do you know now to help you with future puzzles?
As you watch over your child's shoulder, remember that the puzzles start off simple with concrete representations and then get more challenging and abstract as they progress. If they encounter a difficult puzzle, they may ask you for your help. Utilizing the prompts listed above, you will help your student progress forward and persevere while problem-solving.
KELLER KIDS ARE UNIQUE!
Thank you Keller Kids for sharing the ways you are unique!
Our interests and hobbies remind us that we can connect with others around the things we have in common and bring us joy!
Thank you to Ayah, Brielle, and Finn.
As a school community, we continue to grow opportunities for students to experience Keller’s Core Values of caring, inclusive, intelligent, respectful, and unique. We look forward to welcoming more Keller Kids to participate and share their interests.
If your Keller Student would like to participate, please sign up using this link. We invite Keller 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students to sign up! We will continue to add grade levels!
How it works . . .
Every Friday at 2 o’clock, students signed up for that week, will meet with principals to set up their display in the main hallway. Students will also pick up their collection from the previous week.
Each student will have half a shelf to display their items
Bring a name tag to be displayed (folded index card, piece of paper, etc.)
Bring 5-7 items to display that tell your story!
Absence Call-In Procedures
Please call the Keller Office when reporting an absence: 508-553-0322, ext. 3410.
Provide the following information when calling school personnel when your child is absent from school due to illness:
- Student’s name.
- Classroom teacher’s name.
- Date(s) of absences.
Do NOT leave the following information on the absence line:
- Confidential medical information. Please speak to the nurse directly.
- Messages for classroom teacher or for Solutions Staff.
When should you call the school nurse about a child with an illness?
We encourage parents/guardians to call any time they have concerns about symptoms or an illness and specifically for the following reasons:
- A new medical diagnosis, or a change in your child’s health status; i.e. the diagnosis of an allergy.
- A newly prescribed medication, or any change(s) in a current medication.
- A serious injury such as an illness or hospitalization.
- A fracture, sprain, stitches, cast or need for crutches/wheelchair.
- A contagious disease such as chicken pox, flu, strep throat, whooping cough (pertussis), salmonella, measles, etc.
- If there are any recent changes in your family that may affect your child; i.e. a birth, recent loss, or illness
Unified Arts - 6 Day Schedule
In addition, here is the full SY 23-24 Franklin Public Schools, 6-Day Elementary Calendar linked here. In the event of a school closing, the cycle days remain as identified on the calendar.
Keller Parent Communication Council
Saturday, December 9 will be Kids Night Out at Downtown Sports from 6:00-9:00 PM. More information to come.
As always, if you have any questions please reach out to us at: helenkellerpcc@gmail.com
~ Hayley Doucette, President
~ Lianne Chelman, Vice President
~Thea Charles, Treasurer
~ Ali McDonald, Corresponding Secretary
~ Jennifer Micalone, Recording Secretary
~ Ally Bowser, FACE Coordinator
Lunch Volunteers!
Thank you to our lunch volunteers for giving your time and assisting in the cafeteria!
If you are interested and would like to volunteer in the lunch room please click the December Link which will bring you to the Sign-Up Genius.
Lunch volunteers help students with opening food packaging/drinks, wiping tables between grade-level lunches, and sweeping floors if needed.
Please remember that a CORI Form must be completed before volunteering.
Thank you to Mrs. Doenges for assisting with the creation of sign-ups!
CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES
As a school, we are committed to ensuring our students and families’ needs are met. In the coming months, we particularly want our students to be happy and well cared for. For a variety of reasons, families may experience difficulty, but we’re here to help.
If you could benefit from support with holiday gift giving, outdoor clothing, food, or other, please connect with us via email. Please know all communications and support will be done confidentially.
Mrs. Busavage, Principal busavagk@franklinps.net
Mrs. Trott, Assistant Principal trotte@franklinps.net
Mrs. Ballinger, School Adjustment Counselor ballingerr@franklinps.net
Mrs. Ladd, Speech and Language Pathologist laddl@franklinps.net
Health Office - Nurse's Update
Contagious Diseases: Please notify the school nurses if your child is diagnosed with a contagious illness so notification letters can be sent to classroom parents/guardians/caregivers if necessary, such as for strep throat, conjunctivitis, and hand, foot, and mouth disease. School policy states that students may return to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics, when they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication, or 24 hours after vomiting/ diarrhea has resolved. With the upcoming cold weather months, please monitor your child for symptoms of illness as we approach cold and flu season and keep them home if they have a temperature of 100 or greater. Additionally, we are still seeing cases of Covid. Students should remain out of school through day 5 and may return on day 6 if fever-free and symptoms are improving, masking through day 10 unless they test negative after day 5. Here is a link to free at-home Covid tests: www.covid.gov/tests.
Screenings: Vision, hearing, height, and weight screenings have begun for elementary students according to MDPH guidelines. If your child does not pass the vision or hearing screening, you will receive a referral notification.
As always, please reach out to the school nurses with any questions or concerns.
CORI Forms
Many have stopped by the office to complete their CORI form paperwork - thank you!
CORI forms need to be completed annually and prior to volunteering in the building or chaperoning a field trip. If you are chaperoning an upcoming field trip, please be sure to stop by the Keller Office to complete a form.
Completing a CORI form can be done at any time. Just bring this completed form to the Keller Office, or fill one out when you arrive. Also, please have with you one form of photo identification.
Lunch Menu
The elementary lunch menus are linked here. Students do not need to pre-order lunches but should be aware if they are getting breakfast and/or lunch at school, or if they are bringing lunch from home.
Students should come to school with a snack and water bottle.
Weekend Backpack Program
Franklin Public Schools has partnered with the Franklin Food Pantry to provide food to students who might benefit from this support. Together, we will gather, package, and provide bags of food for students during the school year to take home over the weekend. Students who participate in this program are kept confidential to appropriate school personnel. Names are not shared with food pantry personnel. Packaged food is sent home on Fridays throughout the year. This is a free program for all participating families. The backpacks will contain a variety of child-friendly foods. Some examples are snacks, canned fruits, and macaroni and cheese. Backpacks will be distributed to students in a discreet and caring manner.
If you are interested in receiving the Backpack or have questions about the program, please call the Keller Health Office, at (508) 553 -0322, Ext. 3609 or 3421. You may also print and sign this letter and return it to the School Nurse.
Upcoming Dates! MORE to Come!
December
6 - Kindergarten / Math Morning @ 8:45 - 9:30 AM
7 - Grade 1 / Math Morning @ 8:45 - 9:30 AM
9 - Kids Night Out - Downtown Sports12 - School Committee @ 7:00 PM
14 - Report Cards Distributed
21 - PCC Meeting @ 7:30 PM (LINK)
22 - Early Release @ 11:45 AM - Professional Development Half Day
25 - January 1 No School - Winter Break
January
2 - Return to School
2-5 Coats for Kids and Families
9 - School Committee @ 7:00 PM
15 - No School - MLK Jr. Day
16 - Early Release Day - Dismissal @ 11:45 AM
18 - PCC Meeting @ 7:30 PM (LINK)
23 - School Committee @ 7:00 PM
February
2 - Early Release Day - Dismissal @ 11:45 AM
15 - PCC Meeting @ 7:30 PM (LINK)
19 - 23 - No School - February Break
28 -- Early Release Day - Dismissal @ 11:45 AM
Go Hawk News!
You will find archived Keller Connections and related school information.
Contact Information
Ellen Trott, Assistant Principal - trotte@franklinps.net
Kathy Dacey, Secretary - daceyk@franklinps.net
Website: https://www.franklinps.net/helenkeller
Location: 500 Lincoln Street, Franklin, MA, USA
Phone: 508-553-0322